Passive Wireless Microphone Array for Aircraft Pressure Sensing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pressure sensors for measuring pressure on aircraft surfaces require internal electronics, leading to issues with parasitic noise and the need for wiring, which is undesirable in high-temperature or radioactive environments, and they cannot conform to non-planar surfaces effectively.
Innovation Solution
A wireless and passive pressure sensor system using a composite dielectric circuit board with a conductive RF element and a conductive ground plane, where the dielectric layers form a cavity that acts as a pressure-sensitive diaphragm, allowing for pressure measurement through electromagnetic waves without internal electronics.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If internal electronics are added to pressure sensors to minimize noise, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity and wiring requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the electronics from the sensor itself, creating a passive sensor that requires no internal power source or signal processing electronics. The sensor element is completely passive, eliminating all wiring complexity while maintaining measurement capability through external electronic support.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary electronic system that is completely external to the sensor. This external electronics acts as a mediator, providing all signal processing and power functions remotely, allowing the sensor itself to remain simple and wireless while achieving high measurement precision.
2Measurement precision
If internal electronics are integrated into pressure sensors, then signal processing capability is improved, but reliability in harsh environments deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts all electronics from the harsh environment by placing them externally. The passive sensor element can be positioned in high-temperature or radioactive environments without risk to electronic components, as all electronics operate in protected external locations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses an external electronic system as an intermediary that operates in protected environments. This mediator processes signals and provides power remotely, allowing the sensor to withstand harsh conditions while maintaining sophisticated signal processing capabilities in safe external locations.
3Measurement precision
If conventional pressure sensors are used, then pressure measurement capability is achieved, but adaptability to non-planar surfaces is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a thin-film passive sensor element that can conform to curved and non-planar surfaces. This flexible membrane structure maintains its pressure sensing capability while adapting to various surface geometries, enabling deployment on aircraft wings, fuselages, and other complex-shaped structures.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses small, modular passive sensor elements that can be individually positioned and conform to local surface geometries. These segmented sensor units can be distributed across complex surfaces, with each element adapting to its local curvature while maintaining consistent measurement performance.
4Measurement precision
If wiring is added to pressure sensors for signal transmission, then measurement capability is improved, but ease of operation and installation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the signal transmission function from the sensor itself by making the sensor completely passive. Wireless communication is achieved by having the external electronic system handle all transmission functions, eliminating physical wiring and dramatically simplifying installation while maintaining high-fidelity signal transmission.
5Measurement precision
If internal electronics are used in pressure sensors, then signal processing is improved, but loss of energy through power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts all power consumption from the sensor element by making it completely passive. The sensor requires no internal power source, eliminating energy loss at the sensor location entirely. All signal processing is performed externally where power management can be optimized separately.
Solution Approach 2:
The passive sensor element serves itself by requiring no power input. It naturally responds to pressure changes and modulates the electromagnetic field without consuming energy, achieving signal processing through passive physical phenomena rather than active electronic components.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables accurate measurement of both static and dynamic pressure levels on non-planar surfaces without wiring or internal energy sources, suitable for harsh environments, and can operate in high-temperature or radioactive conditions.
Implementation Method 1
the first dielectric layer forms a pressure sensitive diaphragm with the cavity
Implementation Method 2
transmitting an incident electromagnetic wave to interrogate an integrated antenna and pressure sensor
Implementation Method 3
the reflected electromagnetic wave being a portion of the incident electromagnetic wave reflected from the conductive RF element displaced by diaphragm movement due to the pressure
Implementation Method 4
wirelessly receiving a reflected electromagnetic wave
Implementation Method 5
the processor determines the measured pressure by processing the received reflected electromagnetic wave to determine an electromagnetic resonance of the patch antenna element
Implementation Method 6
processor determines the measured pressure by processing the received reflected electromagnetic wave to determine a doppler shift between the incident electromagnetic wave and the reflected electromagnetic wave
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus for measuring pressure is disclosed. The apparatus can be used to measure static pressures or dynamic pressures as would a conventional microphone, but can be integrated with antenna elements, and can be implemented without need for conductive elements in the array itself to provide the sensed pressure signal for processing. Instead, diaphragm movement is remotely and wirelessly sensed and used to determine pressure.